Best/Worst Colbert Pick All-Time

[DesertSteel]

What was the best and the worst Colbert pick of all time? I thought of this question when someone brought up the LS he drafted a few years back.

[st33lersguy]

Best pick: Ben. Won the franchise 2 Super Bowls. Also had no business being drafted where he was

Worst pick: Jarvis Jones. Set the defense back a few years and is one of the 1st round draft picks in Steelers history

[hawaiiansteeler]

worst -

off the top of my head:

1) Limas Sweed
2) Jarvis Jones
3) Artie Burns

[DesertSteel]

I’m thinking...

Best: Ben/Troy tie
Worst: Jarvis Jones

[hawaiiansteeler]

not sure we can give Colbert the credit for picking Ben.

Colbert and Cowher were going to pick Shawn Andrews if Dan Rooney hadn't stepped in to convince them to select Ben instead.

[W&M_Steeler]

not sure we can give Colbert the credit for picking Ben.

Colbert and Cowher were going to pick Shawn Andrews if Dan Rooney hadn't stepped in to convince them to select Ben instead.

What is the source for the Shawn Andrews story? I have seen this alleged before, but I don't think I've ever seen a source for it. Is it true, or is it just Steelers' fan lore?

Ben and Troy are the Colbert era's best picks. AB is honorable mention, but his departure soured it.

Jarvis and Burns are the worst picks- clear first-round busts that derailed the defensive rebuild (and I think cost the Steelers a real shot at a Super Bowl in the latter half of the 2010s). Alonzo Jackson, Senquez Golson, and Ziggy Hood are honorable mentions.

[tube517]

What is the source for the Shawn Andrews story? I have seen this alleged before, but I don't think I've ever seen a source for it. Is it true, or is it just Steelers' fan lore?

Ben and Troy are the Colbert era's best picks. AB is honorable mention, but his departure soured it.

Jarvis and Burns are the worst picks- clear first-round busts that derailed the defensive rebuild (and I think cost the Steelers a real shot at a Super Bowl in the latter half of the 2010s). Alonzo Jackson, Senquez Golson, and Ziggy Hood are honorable mentions.

Dan Rooney himself wrote about it in his book

[W&M_Steeler]

Dan Rooney himself wrote about it in his book

That's a pretty damn good source.

[86WARD]

not sure we can give Colbert the credit for picking Ben.

Colbert and Cowher were going to pick Shawn Andrews if Dan Rooney hadn't stepped in to convince them to select Ben instead.

According to Cowher’s book, this isn’t true. Both he and Colbert wanted Ben as long as they didn’t have to trade up for him. If he was there at 11, they were taking him. They admit that they needed a lineman more than a QB at that stage but with a potential franchise QB potentially being there, they would take him.

Sounds like this Shawn Andrews thing may have been a little out of context?

[DesertSteel]

According to Cowher’s book, this isn’t true. Both he and Colbert wanted Ben as long as they didn’t have to trade up for him. If he was there at 11, they were taking him. They admit that they needed a lineman more than a QB at that stage but with a potential franchise QB potentially being there, they would take him.

Sounds like this Shawn Andrews thing may have been a little out of context?

What would Cowher know about what he wanted?! (sarcasm)

[tube517]

According to Cowher’s book, this isn’t true. Both he and Colbert wanted Ben as long as they didn’t have to trade up for him. If he was there at 11, they were taking him. They admit that they needed a lineman more than a QB at that stage but with a potential franchise QB potentially being there, they would take him.

Sounds like this Shawn Andrews thing may have been a little out of context?

So, Cowher contradicts Dan Rooney? Maybe Colbert has to put out his own book lol. Rooney said he steered the conversation back to Roethlisberger after the Steelers were just about to draft Andrews.

https://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh...elers-to-glory

[86WARD]

So, Cowher contradicts Dan Rooney? Maybe Colbert has to put out his own book lol. Rooney said he steered the conversation back to Roethlisberger after the Steelers were just about to draft Andrews.

https://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh...elers-to-glory

I don’t know…maybe that fits into Cowhers story as well. I mean they were talking QB if Ben dropped to 11. Not trading up for one. Otherwise it seemed they were going to go O-Line. Maybe Rooney was talking about moving up for one? Seems like between the two (Cowher and Rooney) there is a little bit of the story that needs to be added in to give the full context of the story?

[tube517]

I don’t know…maybe that fits into Cowhers story as well. I mean they were talking QB if Ben dropped to 11. Not trading up for one. Otherwise it seemed they were going to go O-Line. Maybe Rooney was talking about moving up for one? Seems like between the two (Cowher and Rooney) there is a little bit of the story that needs to be added in to give the full context of the story?

Enter Kevin Colbert's book lol

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Going even further back, cutting Unitas was pretty bad too.

Steelers could have had Unitas and Marino. Oh well.

[ThorndikeFFA]

Best: Troy
Worst: Burns

[Mojouw]

Fred Gibson. Cedric Hume.

[pczach]

I hope I didn't miss anyone, but the best draft picks based on value in no particular order since 2000:

Plaxico Burress 1st round
Marvel Smith 2nd round
Clark Haggans 5th round
Troy Polamalu 1st round
Ike Taylor 4th round
Brett Keisel 7th round
Ben Roethlisberger 1st round
Lawrence Timmons 1st round
LaMarr Woodley 2nd round
William Gay 5th round
Casey Hampton 1st round
Kendrell Bell 2nd round
Chris Hope 3rd round
Larry Foote 4th round
Heath Miller 1st round
Santonio Holmes 1st round
Mike Wallace 3rd round
Keenan Lewis 3rd round
Antonio Brown 6th round
Maurkice Pouncey 1st round
Cam Heyward 1st round
David DeCastro 1st round
Kelvin Beachum 7th round
Le'Veon Bell 2nd round
Vince Williams 6th round
Stephon Tuitt 2nd round
Ryan Shazier 1st round
Javon Hargrave 3rd round
TJ Watt 1st round
JuJu Smith-Schuster 2nd round
Bud Dupree 1st round
Martavis Bryant 4th round
Emmanuel Sanders 3rd round
Willie Colon 4th round
Chris Kemoeatu 6th round

A little early, but looking good:


Devin Bush 1st round
Diontae Johnson 3rd round
Cam Sutton 3rd round
Chase Claypool 2nd round
Alex Highsmith 3rd round
Keven Dotson 4th round

I just wanted to list all the players that I believe were and are quality players at an excellent value, even if they didn't spend most of their career with the Steelers.

[EzraTank]

I hope I didn't miss anyone, but the best draft picks based on value in no particular order since 2000:


Clark Haggans 5th round
Ike Taylor 4th round
Brett Keisel 7th round
William Gay 5th round
Larry Foote 4th round
Antonio Brown 6th round
Vince Williams 6th round
Martavis Bryant 4th round
Emmanuel Sanders 3rd round
Willie Colon 4th round
Chris Kemoeatu 6th round

I'm with Pczach as well.

When you factor which round ... Antonio Brown in the 6th round by far was his best (if not luckiest). Saying Ben or Troy is easy but they were first rounders and supposed to be great.

As for worst Jarvis Jones, and Burns top the list. I would add Sweed but Sweed was a 2nd rounder the other two first rounds.

[FrancoLambert]

Best: Troy

Worst: Jarvis Jones

[teegre]

Best: Jon Kuhn

Worst: Ben Roethlisberger

[pczach]

Best: Jon Kuhn

Worst: Ben Roethlisberger

Obviously....

[Lloydwoodsonjr]

Best value: AB

Worst value: Jarvis Jones edges out Artie Burns and Xavier Rhodes was such an obvious Steelers type corner to pass on

[pczach]

Here's and article on this very subject through 2018.

https://wholeninesports.com/2019/04/...draft-history/

[Hawkman]

Here's and article on this very subject through 2018.

https://wholeninesports.com/2019/04/...draft-history/

They should just have named him Vernon Haynes. Even announcers couldn’t get Verron right. Spell check still wants to make it Vernon.

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I hope I didn't miss anyone, but the best draft picks based on value in no particular order since 2000:

Plaxico Burress 1st round
Marvel Smith 2nd round
Clark Haggans 5th round
Troy Polamalu 1st round
Ike Taylor 4th round
Brett Keisel 7th round
Ben Roethlisberger 1st round
Lawrence Timmons 1st round
LaMarr Woodley 2nd round
William Gay 5th round
Casey Hampton 1st round
Kendrell Bell 2nd round
Chris Hope 3rd round
Larry Foote 4th round
Heath Miller 1st round
Santonio Holmes 1st round
Mike Wallace 3rd round
Keenan Lewis 3rd round
Antonio Brown 6th round
Maurkice Pouncey 1st round
Cam Heyward 1st round
David DeCastro 1st round
Kelvin Beachum 7th round
Le'Veon Bell 2nd round
Vince Williams 6th round
Stephon Tuitt 2nd round
Ryan Shazier 1st round
Javon Hargrave 3rd round
TJ Watt 1st round
JuJu Smith-Schuster 2nd round
Bud Dupree 1st round
Martavis Bryant 4th round
Emmanuel Sanders 3rd round
Willie Colon 4th round
Chris Kemoeatu 6th round

A little early, but looking good:


Devin Bush 1st round
Diontae Johnson 3rd round
Cam Sutton 3rd round
Chase Claypool 2nd round
Alex Highsmith 3rd round
Keven Dotson 4th round

I just wanted to list all the players that I believe were and are quality players at an excellent value, even if they didn't spend most of their career with the Steelers.

I don’t think I ever realized that Keisel was a 7th round pick. I’m so glad we had him. He is a Steelers through and through.

[pczach]

They should just have named him Vernon Haynes. Even announcers couldn’t get Verron right. Spell check still wants to make it Vernon.

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I don’t think I ever realized that Keisel was a 7th round pick. I’m so glad we had him. He is a Steelers through and through.

Keisel was a huge bargain and a terrific player for a long time here. He was a perfect fit here schematically and from a personality standpoint. Great dude, great teammate, great in the community.

A real homerun late in the draft.

[Born2Steel]

Best: I hope it has yet to happen but for this conversation, TP43.

Worst: Gerod Hollimon

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Best: I hope it has yet to happen but for this conversation, TP43.

Worst: Gerod Hollimon

Oh, you have to be playin. Wasnt Holliman a 7th round pick or something? Sure, he sucked but with relative value I would say that Tony Hills in the 4th or Bruce Davis in the 3rd are worse. Maybe Dri Archer in the 3rd is worse than wherever they got Benny Snell at RB.

I still think it was Jarvis Jones as worse. I could see on tape he just hustled and was all effort, but no athleticism, even Gil Brandt trashed Jones. Artie Burns was all athleticism but no technique or discipline, although a lot of pundits had him highly ranked.

Trading up for Troy is a baller move.

[Born2Steel]

Oh, you have to be playin. Wasnt Holliman a 7th round pick or something? Sure, he sucked but with relative value I would say that Tony Hills in the 4th or Bruce Davis in the 3rd are worse. Maybe Dri Archer in the 3rd is worse than wherever they got Benny Snell at RB.

I still think it was Jarvis Jones as worse. I could see on tape he just hustled and was all effort, but no athleticism, even Gil Brandt trashed Jones. Artie Burns was all athleticism but no technique or discipline, although a lot of pundits had him highly ranked.

Trading up for Troy is a baller move.

I agree there are many picks that turned into worse picks. But those picks at least made sense when they got selected. Holliman was a wasted throwaway of a pick. Sort of like Colbert was surprised he had one more pick to make. Sort of like that longsnapper pick a couple drafts ago. What was his name....?

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I think Golson was more bad luck than bad pick.

Yep Golson just couldn't get through TC without a season ending injury. Bad luck, bad feet and ankles.

[Steeler-in-west]

The Jarvis Jones and Artie Burns picks set us back. We could’ve bolstered the o line.

I know this goes way back before the Colbert era but the decision to go with Gab Rivera over Marino in 83 has got to be our all time worst. Feel bad to say because Rivera might’ve become a good player if tragedy had not struck, but the Steelers got only one season out of him and lost out on possibly an 80’s Steelers dynasty or at least rivaling the Niners. Still hate thinking about it.

[EzraTank]

The Jarvis Jones and Artie Burns picks set us back. We could’ve bolstered the o line.

I know this goes way back before the Colbert era but the decision to go with Gab Rivera over Marino in 83 has got to be our all time worst. Feel bad to say because Rivera might’ve become a good player if tragedy had not struck, but the Steelers got only one season out of him and lost out on possibly an 80’s Steelers dynasty or at least rivaling the Niners. Still hate thinking about it.

Agreed. And remember free agency hit (with no cap) around 1987 which would have been Marino's 4th year. So we would have had all those years to build a team around him and easily could have won a few more SB's. Imagine Marino starting the 1995 Superbowl instead of Neil O'Donnell?

[fansince'76]

I know this goes way back before the Colbert era but the decision to go with Gab Rivera over Marino in 83 has got to be our all time worst.

Going even further back, cutting Unitas was pretty bad too.